Device and method for a washing system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a loading system in a washing installation comprising a plurality of dishwashers arranged essentially in parallel. The loading system comprises a dish holder to be loaded with goods to be washed, and a traveller which is adapted to convey the dish holder to a selected dishwasher, into which loading is to take place, the traveller being displaceably arranged along the dishwashers arranged in parallel. The invention also relates to a washing installation and a method therefor. The installation comprises a plurality of essentially parallel dishwashers of a straight-way type, which are essentially built into a separating wall portion to form an inlet side and an outlet side. The installation has two mutually independent loading systems for loading of goods to be washed on the inlet side and unloading of washed goods on the outlet side.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a loading system in a washinginstallation, which comprises a plurality of dishwashers arrangedessentially in parallel. More-over, the invention relates to a washinginstallation which comprises a plurality of dishwashers arranged inparallel, which are of a straightway type and essentially built into awall portion to form an inlet side and an outlet side. The inventionalso relates to a method for loading washing installations of the abovetype.

BACKGROUND ART

Washing installations of the type mentioned above, i.e. washing deviceswith dishwashers arranged in parallel, have been known for a long time.However, the known constructions suffer from a number of drawbacks.Either the dishwashers must be loaded manually, which is time- andlabour-consuming. Moreover staff is required to monitor when thedishwashers have finished, which dishwashers are free etc, which makesthis system very inefficient. Experiments with automatic loading systemsfor this type of installation have been made, but such systems have beenvery bulky and impractical. As an example, a construction can bementioned in which the dishwashers are loaded by means of rollerconveyors which are arranged in the feeding direction of thedishwashers, in front of and behind each dishwasher. This constructionis not only bulky but also makes access to the dishwashers in case ofservice difficult. Furthermore the roller conveyors, and the floorsurface therebelow, are difficult to keep clean, which has a detrimentaleffect on the hygienic standard of the installation. Separate rollerconveyors also require staff to distribute the goods to be washed amongthe different dishwashers. An advantage of this type of installationwith parallel dishwashers, however, is that the remaining dishwasherscan be used even if one or more dishwashers need to be serviced or thelike.

Most washing installations on the market, however, are of a so-calledindexing type, meaning that a dishcarrying trolley is run through aplurality of washing compartments arranged in series. These systems havea number of drawbacks in common. First, the systems are connected inseries and in many cases they have a common control for washing andtransport. If one part of the installation is put out of service, thusthe entire installation comes to a standstill with a capacity loss of100%. Second, connecting in series means that the consumption of timefor each step in the process must be adjusted to the step that requiresthe largest amount of time, i.e. some fast working processes will standstill for a great part of the time. Finally, the indexing systems havein most cases a covered design, which renders visual monitoring of thewashing process as well as service and maintenance difficult. In theserespects, parallel systems are preferred, but the previously knownsystems have the drawbacks mentioned above. Particularly seriousproblems arise, for example, in washing installations in hospitals,where a clean and hygienic environment is an absolute requirement, andwhere great demands are placed on washing capacity and operationalreliability.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention thus is to provide a washinginstallation with dishwashers arranged in parallel, having a loadingsystem which allows easy access to the dishwashers formaintenance/service of parts of the installation, without ensuing greatcapacity troubles. Additional objects of the invention are to provide aninstallation which is hygienic and easy to keep clean and which allows ahigh washing capacity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are achieved by a loading device of the typementioned by way of introduction, which is further characterised in thatthe loading system comprises a dish holder to be loaded with goods to bewashed, and a traveller which is adapted to convey said dish holder to aselected dishwasher, into which loading is to take place, said travellerbeing displaceably arranged along said dishwashers arranged in parallel.The system thus has a common loading device for a row of dishwashers,which allows automatic selection of a suitable dishwasher. Moreover dishholders are transported by means of a movable traveller, which thusallows a free floor space, in contrast to stationary conveyors, andallows easy access to a dishwasher in connection with, for instance,service.

Moreover, the loading system suitably comprises a storage place forintermediate storage of loaded dish holders.

Conveniently the system comprises at least one loading place for loadinggoods to be washed into dish holders included in said washinginstallation and unloading of washed goods from said dish holders.

According to a preferred embodiment, the traveller is pendular-suspendedfrom the travelling track, the traveller in its lower part restingagainst a supporting track extending below said dishwashers arranged inparallel. It is possible to let the entire weight of the traveller besupported by a wall portion defined by the row of dishwashers. As aresult, the traveller can go completely free of the floor of theinstallation, which allows a free floor space and renders cleaningthereof easy.

Conveniently the traveller is displaceable in a direction essentiallyperpendicular to the feeding direction of the dishwashers, which allowsthe traveller to be arranged very close to the wall portion defined bythe row of dishwashers, and to follow the wall portion. The extent ofthe device in space thus is small.

Moreover, the traveller is suitably movable between a first position, inwhich the dish holder in question is transferable between the travellerand the storage place, and a number of feeding positions which arelocated in connection with the inlet/outlet of the respectivedishwashers and in which the dish holder is transferable between thetraveller and the washing space of the respective dishwashers, a dishholder arranged on the traveller being stationary relative to thetraveller while the traveller moves between the first position and oneof the feeding positions.

Furthermore the storage place is suitably adapted for intermediatestorage of dish holders which are oriented in advance in the samedirection as in a washing operation, which facilitates feeding.Furthermore the storage place comprises a belt conveyor extending in thefeeding direction and adapted to successively convey dish holders,essentially between the loading place and the traveller, and constitutesan intermediate storage for loaded trolleys waiting for washing orunloading. This enables higher efficiency, for example, since a numberof trolleys can be loaded simultaneously, whereupon the responsiblestaff is free to perform other work, and the trolleys are automaticallyloaded into a dishwasher for washing as soon as there is a freedishwasher, which also improves the flow in the installation.

Further advantageous embodiments of the loading device are recited inthe subclaims.

The above objects are also achieved by a washing installation which isof the type defined by way of introduction and which is characterised inthat it comprises two mutually independent loading systems of the typedescribed above for loading of goods to be washed on the inlet side andunloading of washed goods on the outlet side. This also enables a systemoperating fully automatically from loading of goods until unloading ofgoods. This will set staff free for other tasks.

According to a preferred embodiment, the washing installation comprisesa return conveyor travelling from the outlet side to the inlet side toeasily return the dish holders to the inlet side where they can be usedagain and be loaded with new goods to be washed.

Suitably the loading system on the inlet side, the unloading system onthe outlet side and the dishwashers are controlled separately from eachother by means of independent control units and comprise mechanicalsensors for synchronising between the three subsystems, said sensorsbeing electrically connected to the respective control units. Thisindependent control means that even if, for example, the loading systemon the inlet side is being serviced, dish holders can be fed manuallyinto the dishwashers, whereupon the automatic unloading system on theoutlet side functions as usual and handles the outgoing dish holders inthe usual manner. This is also applicable when servicing a dishwasher.The systems then use the remaining dishwashers and load them as usual.The mechanical connecting means allow, for example, simple manualloading of the dishwashers as an alternative to the automatic loading.

Finally, the above objects are also achieved by a method as defined inclaim 18.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described below in more detail with reference topreferred embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a loading system according to theinvention, included in a washing installation,

FIG. 2 is a schematic top plan view of the entire washing installationmentioned in connection with FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the loading system accordingto FIG. 1 included in the washing installation.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a loading system included in a washing installation forhospitals also comprising a number of juxtaposed dishwashers arranged inparallel, in this case of the type DECOMAT A-8666, which are made andsold by Getinge Disinfection AB, and a conveyor 12 for dish holders 3included in the system, said conveyor being described in more detailbelow.

The loading system comprises a loading place 2, here a loading table, inthis case located in immediate connection with a storage place 4. Thestorage place 4 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a table portion having atub-like portion with an outlet device, for easy cleaning of said tableportion. Belt conveyors 4′, 4″ are arranged on opposite sides of thetable portion. Moreover the loading system comprises a traveller 5 whichis supported in a travelling track 6 which extends over the row ofdishwashers (1 a–1 c). The traveller is practically seenpendular-suspended from this travelling track 6 and abuts against asupporting track 7 in which the traveller 5 in its lower part isdisplaceably arranged. To perform said displacement motion, the portionof the traveller 5 which is arranged in the travelling track 6communicates with a motor 8, which by means of a belt drive carries outthe displacement. In this case, the travelling track 6 is arranged in abeam having an upwardly directed guide rail which is defined by the beamand from which the traveller 5 is suspended. The beam is convenientlyfixedly connected with the floor of the installation by means of a beamconstruction. The traveller 5 has a loading surface for loading andtransporting a trolley and also has a driving means 15 arranged adjacentto the loading surface. The driving means 15 has a hook portion and apressing portion for pulling and respectively pressing or pushing a dishholder from one position to another. The traveller 5 has a number ofdisplacement positions between which it is displaceably arranged bymeans of said tracks and motor unit, viz. a first position in which thetraveller 5 is located edge-to-edge with the storage place 4, for easytransfer of dish holders 3 therebetween, and a number of feedingpositions in which the traveller 5 is positioned in front of one of thedishwashers 1 a–1 c for feeding a dish holder 3 between the dishwasherin question and the traveller 5.

When loading a dish holder with goods to be washed by means of theloading system described above, an empty dish holder is placed in theloading place 2, here a loading table, whereupon goods to be washed arearranged in a suitable fashion on the dish holder 3. It is alsoconceivable to arrange the goods to be washed on the dish holder 3 in aloading place 2 separated from the rest of the system, whereupon theloaded dish holder 3 is moved to the position of the shown loading table2, for instance by means of a trolley 13 included in the washinginstallation. After loading goods to be washed on to the dish holder 3,the dish holder is moved to the storage place 4, which movement isfacilitated by means of rows of wheel elements 3′ which are arranged onopposite sides of the dish holder and whose mutual distance between therows essentially corresponds to the distance between the belt conveyors4′, 4″. The dish holder 3 is thus made to roll to the position where thewheels 3′ operatively engage said belt conveyors 4′, 4″, whereupon theconveyors 4′, 4″ convey the dish holder to a storage position in saidstorage place 4. This storage position arises when the dish holder 3abuts against a stop means 16 (see FIG. 3) or an anteriorly situatedtrolley stored in the storage place 4, whereupon the wheel elements 3′are made to roll freely, or alternatively, an additional motion of thebelt conveyors 4′, 4′ is stopped, thereby preventing unnecessary wear onthe belt conveyors 4′, 4″ and the wheel elements 3′. As anteriorlysituated dish holders, if any, are passed on in the system (according tothe principle described below), the dish holder 3 is advanced to saidstop means 16. The traveller 5 is passed to its first position describedabove, the traveller being displaced in a direction which is essentiallyperpendicular to the travelling direction of the belt conveyors 4′, 4″.The traveller is then arranged edge-to-edge with the storage place 4,adjacent to said stop means 16, the stop means 16 being released and thebelt conveyors 4′, 4″ once more being operatively engaged with the dishholder 3, which is transferred to said traveller 5. Furthermore, alsothe driving means 15 (see FIG. 3) on the traveller can be made to engagesaid holder 3 for pulling the same from the storage place 4 to thetraveller 5. If the traveller is already in its first position when thedish holder 3 is transferred from the loading place 2 to the storageplace 4, and no other dish holders are positioned in the storage place4, the dish holder 3 can, of course, be transferred directly to thetraveller 5 without being stopped by said stop means 16. When the dishholder 3 is correctly arranged on the traveller 5, the traveller is madeto be displaced along said travelling track 6 and supporting track 7 bymeans of a driving device (not shown) arranged in the travelling track 6and driven by a motor unit 8. The driving device can be designed invarious ways, such as in the form of belts or gear rims, and its designis not essential to the invention and will therefore not be discussed inmore detail. The traveller 5 travels along said tracks 6, 7 to one ofthe feeding positions, in which the traveller 5 stops and in which thedish holder 3 is immediately transferable with the aid of the drivingmeans 15 to a dishwasher included in the washing installation, in adirection essentially perpendicular to the travelling direction of thetraveller 5.

Similarly, the loading device can be used when unloading washed goodsfrom the dishwashers. An outlet traveller 5 is moved to the outlet ofthe dishwasher in question, whereupon a dish holder is transferable fromthe dishwasher to the outlet traveller 5 a with the aid of correspondingdriving means. After the transfer, the outlet traveller 5 a is moved toits first position, whereupon the dish holder 3, with the aid of thedriving means and/or corresponding belt conveyors, is transferred to astorage place 4 a. In a manner corresponding to that described above,the dish holder 3 is successively advanced to a position where it abutsagainst a stop means. When the stop means is released, the dish holderis advanced to an unloading place 2 a, whereupon the washed goods areunloaded from the dish holder 3 and the washing operation is terminated.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a washing installation comprising a numberof dishwashers 1 a–1 f arranged in parallel, a loading device asdescribed above, an unloading device as described above and a returnconveyor 12. Furthermore the system comprises trolleys 13, 14 on theloading as well as the unloading side, which are adapted to easilytransfer dish holders 13 between the trolleys 13, 14 and the returnconveyor 12 and the loading places 2, 2 a, respectively. The dishwashers1 a-If are built into a wall portion 9 to form an inlet side 10 forgoods to be washed and an outlet side 11 for washed goods. The returnconveyor 12 travels through an opening in the wall 9 to return trolleysfrom the outlet side 11 to the inlet side 10. For hygienic reasons, thetwo sides are besides well separated from each other. The possibility ofthis complete separation of the two sides is most important in, forexample, medical care, thus preventing transmission of infections andthe like. The dishwashers in the system shown in FIG. 2 are of theabove-mentioned type DECOMAT A-8666, which are manufactured and sold byGetinge Disinfection AB, but of course other dishwashers can be used aswell. The dishwashers 1 a–1 f are of a straightway type, i.e. goods tobe washed are supplied through an inlet, whereupon they are washed anddischarged through an outlet, which is positioned on a side of thedishwasher opposite to said inlet.

A dish holder 3 is loaded with goods to be washed, whereupon it is areconveyed by means of the above-described conveying device to an inputposition in front of a dishwasher, in which position the holder isarranged on the traveller. Subsequently, the dish holder is loaded intothe dishwasher with the aid of the driving means 15, which in thisexample comprises cooperating spring elements, but the driving means 15can be differently designed and will not be described in more detail.The loading of a dish holder 3 into a dishwasher can thus take placefully without using any movable parts in the dishwasher, which meansless wear on these parts than if they were placed in the dishwasher.These moving parts are thus also easily accessible for maintenance andthe like. Then washing and discharge of the dish holder takes place withthe aid of correspondingly acting driving means being arranged on thecorresponding traveller 5 a on the outlet side. Then the dish holder 3is conveyed to the unloading place 2 a by means of a conveying device ofthe type described above. After unloading, the empty dish holder 3 isplaced on the return conveyor 12 by means of e.g. the trolley 14, thedish holder then being returned to the inlet side for loading of newgoods to be washed. At the final end of the return conveyor 12 a stopmeans is arranged, which corresponds to the stop means 16 and which isadapted to prevent further motion of the trolleys until said stop meansis released. When this stop means is released, for example a dish holdercan be transferred immediately to an associated trolley 13, whereuponthe stop means again prevents subsequent dish holders from being furtheradvanced. The dish holder arranged on the trolley can then be moved tothe loading place 2, whereupon the entire procedure can be repeated.

The washing installation described above is controlled as follows. Theloading device on the inlet side is controlled by a first control unit,the unloading device on the outlet side is controlled by a secondcontrol unit, and the dishwashers are controlled separately and by meansof a joint third control unit. The control units are quite independentof each other. In this example, transfer of loaded trolleys takes placebetween the loading place 2 and the storage place 4, and the beltconveyors 4′, 4″ continuously feed dish holders to said stop means 16without stopping. The release of the stopping means 16 is controlled bythe position of the traveller 5. When the traveller 5 is moved towardsits first position, a sensor is pressed in, which, when completelypressed in, when the traveller 5 is in its first position, causes thecontrol unit on the inlet side 10 to emit a release signal to the stopmeans 16, which is released, and a dish holder 3 is advanced to thetraveller 5. Correspondingly, a sensor is arranged on the traveller 5,which after complete transfer of the dish holder 3 to the traveller 5emits a signal to the control unit on the inlet side 10 that thetraveller 5 is prepared to be displaced along the tracks 6, 7. When adishwasher is free, it emits a signal to the joint third control system,and the signal is forwarded to the first control system. If thetraveller is in the standby position described above, the motor 8 startsits displacement motion of the traveller 5 along the tracks 6, 7 to aposition where the traveller 5 is located in front of said freedishwasher. A sensor senses that the traveller 5 is located in a feedingposition, in which the input door of the dishwasher is opened, whereuponthe dish holder is loaded into the dishwasher. When the loading of thedish holder 3 into the dishwasher is terminated, a corresponding sensorin the dishwasher emits a signal for closing the input door, whereuponwashing takes place. A washing program is selected by, for example,sensing the location of coding cylinders or the like arranged on thedish holder 3, but this is per se not relevant for the invention andwill not be described in more detail. When unloading and transportingthe dish holder 3 on the outlet side 11, corresponding sensor transferstake place and will therefore not be described here. The principle isthat a mechanical motion of a part of the system by means of sensingstarts the next step. The sensors can be configured in many differentways and will not be described in more detail. The advantages ofseparate control units, and sensors connecting therebetween, are thatthis construction allows ordinary use of parts of the system when one ormore control units stand still. It may be mentioned, for instance, thata dish holder 3 on the inlet side 10 can be loaded manually into a freedishwasher when servicing e.g. the inlet traveller 5, without affectingthe automatic discharge on the outlet side 11. In the same way, one ormore dishwashers can be put out of operation without affecting thefunction of the installation in its entirety. Moreover, the orderforming in the above storage place 4 can be skipped by manually loadinga dish holder 3 into a free dishwasher.

The motor unit 8 is further provided with a safety stop, which stops themotor from displacing the traveller 5 when the traveller is subjected tolateral loads, exerted by e.g. an individual. This prevents, inter alia,injuries caused by squeezing.

Further advantages of the installation are that the free space in frontof the dishwashers 1 a–1 f allows easy access for service andmaintenance thereof. Cleaning of floor surfaces included in theinstallation is also facilitated, which promotes a hygienicinstallation. Thanks to the automatic loading and unloading of thedishwashers, the capacity of the installation can also be easilymaximised.

A method for loading and feeding by means of a loading system and awashing installation as described above is essentially carried out asfollows

-   -   placing of goods to be washed on a dish holder 3 intended for        washing said goods, in a loading place 2,    -   transferring said dish holder 3 from a loading place 2 to a        storage place 4, whereupon the dish holder 3 by means of a belt        conveyor 4′, 4″ successively is advanced to a stop means 16,        whereupon the advancing optionally is temporarily interrupted,    -   optionally releasing said stop means 16, when a traveller 5 is        located in a first position, whereupon the dish holder 3 is        transferred from said storage place 4 to the traveller 5, by        continued feeding by means of the belt conveyor 4′, 4″ and/or        with the aid of driving means 15 arranged on the traveller,    -   transporting said traveller 5 and the dish holder 3 arranged        thereon transversely of the feeding direction of the dishwasher        1 b, to a feeding position, located in connection with the inlet        of the dishwasher 1 b, whereupon the traveller 5 is made to        release opening of the input door of the dishwasher 1 b, and the        driving means 15 on the traveller 5 is made to convey said dish        holder 3 into the washing area of the dishwasher 1 b, whereupon        the door is closed,    -   washing of goods placed on said dish holder 3, according to a        selected washing program, opening the output door of the        dishwasher 1 b when the washing program is terminated,        corresponding driving means 15 on an outlet traveller 5 a moving        said dish holder 3 from the washing area to the outlet traveller        5 a, the traveller 5 a being made to transport the dish holder 3        to a corresponding first position and the output door being        closed, whereupon the dishwasher 1 b is prepared to receive a        new dish holder,    -   transferring said dish holder 3 to a corresponding storage place        4 a, and from the storage place 4 a to an unloading place 2 a,        in which the washed goods are unloaded from the dish holder 3,        and    -   placing the empty dish holder 3 on a return conveyor 12 for        returning the dish holder 3 to the loading place 12, for use in        washing other goods.

It will be appreciated that many modifications of the embodiments of theinvention described above are feasible within the scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims. For instance, the driving meansdescribed above can be designed in different ways, for transfer motionsof the dish holder 3. This also applies to the above-mentioned sensor.Moreover, the travelling track 6 and the supporting track 7 can be ofdifferent designs, with rails etc., and besides the location thereofrelative to the dishwashers 1 a–1 f is not decisive of the invention.For example, both the travelling and the supporting rail 6 and 7 can bearranged above said row of dishwashers 1 a–1 f, in which case thetraveller hangs freely below the same. Moreover, the storage place 4 canbe of different designs and sizes and be dimensioned for the size of theinstallation. The number of belt conveyors 4′, 4″ and the locationthereof can also be allowed to vary. In spite of the fact that theconveyors 4′, 4″ described above are belt conveyors, it is possible toreplace them by other types of conveyors. However, belt conveyors arepreferred for hygienic reasons since they are easy to clean. The storageplace can also comprise a collecting tub located under dish holdersplaced in the storage place, and an outlet connected thereto for easydraining when cleaning the storage place. For instance, also transfer ofdish holders to the traveller or opening of dishwasher doors can takeplace on other occasions than those described above. The design andlocation of the loading places are variable in order to optimally adaptthe configuration of the installation to an existing building. It mayfinally be mentioned that the design of the installation as such is veryflexible. For example, the number of dishwashers, the speed of thetraveller, the size of the storage place, the number of dish holdersincluded in the system, the length of the return conveyor and theabove-mentioned loading places can be varied in order to optimally adaptthe installation to a client's requirements, and an installationaccording to the invention may also comprise merely a loading device oran unloading device, in which case unloading or loading occurs manually,or with the aid of other automatic means.

1. A loading system in a washing installation, said installationcomprising a plurality of dishwashers arranged essentially in parallelwith respective inlets arranged essentially side by side along a linewhich extends transversely to a feeding direction through said inlets,said loading system comprising: a dish holder to be loaded with goods tobe washed, and a traveller which is adapted to convey said dish holderin front of a selected dishwasher, into which loading is to take place,said traveller being displaceably arranged along said line of inlets. 2.The loading system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a storagefor intermediate storage of loaded dish holders.
 3. The loading systemas claimed in claim 2, further comprising at least one loading place forloading of goods to be washed onto the dish holder included in saidwashing installation or unloading of washed goods from said dish holder.4. The loading system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at leastone loading place for loading of goods to be washed onto the dish holderincluded in said washing installation or unloading of washed goods fromsaid dish holder.
 5. The loading system as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid traveller is, at a top, displaceably supported by a travellingtrack extending above said dishwashers arranged in parallel.
 6. Theloading system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the traveller comprises amotor unit for moving the traveller and said motor unit is arranged inconnection with said travelling track.
 7. The loading system as claimedin claim 6, wherein said motor unit is provided with a safety stop whichis adapted to stop the motor unit and, thus, further movement of thetraveller in case of unintentional load being exerted on said traveller,thereby preventing injuries caused by squeezing.
 8. The loading systemas claimed in claim 1, wherein said traveller is, at a top,pendular-supported, said traveller in a lower part resting against asupporting track extending below said dishwashers arranged in parallel.9. The loading system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said travellerclears the floor of the installation.
 10. The loading system as claimedin claim 1, wherein said traveller is displaceable in a directionessentially perpendicular to a feeding direction of the dishwashers. 11.The loading system as claimed in claim 1, wherein driving means arearranged on said traveller for transferring the dish holder between saidtraveller and a washing space of the associated dishwasher when thetraveller is in a feeding position.
 12. The loading system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the traveller comprises a motor unit for moving thetraveller.
 13. The loading system as claimed in claim 12, wherein saidmotor unit is provided with a safety stop which is adapted to stop themotor unit and, thus, further movement of the traveller in case ofunintentional load being exerted on said traveller, thereby preventinginjuries caused by squeezing.
 14. A loading system in a washinginstallation, said installation comprising a plurality of dishwashersarranged essentially in parallel, said loading system comprising: a dishholder to be loaded with goods to be washed, and a traveller which isadapted to convey said dish holder to a selected dishwasher, into whichloading is to take place, said traveller being displaceably arrangedalong said dishwashers arranged in parallel, wherein said traveller ismovable between a first position, in which the dish holder is movablebetween the traveller and a storage place, and a number of feedingpositions which are located in connection with an inlet/outlet of therespective dishwashers and in which the dish holder is movable betweenthe traveller and the washing space of the respective dishwashers, thedish holder arranged on the traveller being stationary relative to saidtraveller during the motion of the traveller between the first positionand one of said feeding positions.
 15. The loading system as claimed inclaim 14, wherein said storage place is adapted to store a plurality ofdish holders which are oriented in advance in a same direction as in awashing operation, and comprises a belt conveyor extending in a feedingdirection and adapted to successively convey the dish holders between afirst transfer position for transferring the dish holders between thestorage place and said traveller when the traveller is located in saidfirst position, and a second transfer position for transferring the dishholders between a loading place and the storage place, said storageplace accommodating the plurality of dish holders.
 16. A washinginstallation comprising: a plurality of dishwashers arranged essentiallyin parallel and being of a straightway type, said dishwashers beingessentially built into a separating wall portion to form an inlet sideand an outlet side, two mutually independent loading systems for loadingof goods to be washed on the inlet side and unloading of washed goods onthe outlet side each loading system including a dish holder to be loadedwith goods to be washed, and a traveller which is adapted to convey saiddish holder to a selected dishwasher, into which loading is to takeplace, said traveller being displaceably arranged along said dishwashersarranged in parallel.
 17. The washing installation as claimed in claim16, further comprising a return conveyor which travels from the outletside to the inlet side for returning free dish holders to a loadingplace on the inlet side.
 18. The washing installation as claimed inclaim 17, wherein the loading system on the inlet side, the unloadingsystem on the outlet side and the dishwashers are controlled separatelyfrom each other by means of independent control units, and comprises,for synchronisation between the three subsystems, mechanical sensorswhich are electrically connected to the respective control units. 19.The washing installation as claimed in claim 17, further comprising atrolley on at least one of the inlet side and the outlet side, which ismovable between a return conveyor and a storage place on the respectiveside and is adapted to transfer the dish holder between said trolley andthe return conveyor and the storage place, respectively.
 20. The washinginstallation as claimed in claim 16, wherein the loading system on theinlet side, the unloading system on the outlet side and the dishwashersare controlled separately from each other by means of independentcontrol units, and comprises, for synchronisation between the threesubsystems, mechanical sensors which are electrically connected to therespective control units.
 21. The washing installation as claimed inclaim 20, further comprising a trolley on at least one of the inlet sideand the outlet side, which is movable between a return conveyor and astorage place on the respective side and is adapted to transfer the dishholder between said trolley and the return conveyor and the storageplace, respectively.
 22. The washing installation as claimed in claim16, further comprising a trolley on at least one of the inlet side andthe outlet side, which is movable between a return conveyor and astorage place on the respective side and is adapted to transfer the dishholder between said trolley and the return conveyor and the storageplace, respectively.
 23. A method for loading one of a plurality ofdishwashers arranged in parallel with respective inlets arrangedessentially side by side along a line which extends transversely to afeeding direction through said inlets, comprising the steps of: placinggoods to be washed on a dish holder intended for washing said goods,placing said dish holder on a traveller, and moving said traveller andthe dish holder arranged thereon transversely of a feeding direction ofthe dishwashers in front of a selected dishwasher.